172 MR. W. A. FORBES ON THE GENUS LATHAMUS. [Feb. 18, 



it has in fact no particular relationship to the TricTioglossince. The 

 shape of the upper mandible, with a small but distinct tooth, is 

 obviouslj' (see fig. 1, p. 171) much nearer to that oiPsephotus (fig. 3) 

 than it is to that of a Lory (fig. 5) . The same story is told still more 

 plainly by its maxilla, which has none of the laterally compressed, 

 elongate, and pointed form characteristic of the Lories, and which 

 induced Suudevall to divide all Parrots into two groups " Psittaci 

 proprii " and " Psittaci orthognathi," the latter including only the 

 Lories and Nestor, and characterized by having the " maxilla in- 

 ferior recta, angusta, altitudine longior." In Lathamus the maxilla 

 is short and deep, with a broad and rounded anterior margin. These 

 differences will be seen by a glance at figures 5 and 1, representing 

 the heads of a Trichoglossus {concinmis) and of Lathamus. 



In all the TrichoglossincB I have examined, the cere is rather narrow 

 from before backwards, the anterior margin only sinuate, and the 

 nostrils elongated and ovate, with their long axis directed forwards 

 and inwards, and so somewhat transversely to the direction of the 

 beak (fig. 5, p. 171). This is very evident in the living birds, and is 

 also to be made out in skins. In Lathamus, however, and the Platy- 

 cercince generally, the cere is much larger, with the anterior 

 border on each side nearly semicircular ; and the nostrils are oval 

 and directed upwards, more nearly parallel with the culmen (see 

 figs. 1 and 3). 



In the small size of the nude orbital ring Lathamus agrees with 

 the PlatycercincB rather than with the Lories, in which it is of fair 

 size and rather conspicuous in the living birds. 



In the shape of the wings, no doubt, Lathamus is somewhat aber- 

 rant, and nearer the Lories than the Platycerci. This is, however, 

 so obviously an adaptive modification, due to the swift flight and 

 arboreal habits of both these birds as compared with the more ground- 

 loving mode of life of the Platycerci, that no stress can be laid on it 

 as a taxonomic character. The rounded end of the wing-feathers, 

 however, of Lathamus still point to its Platycercine affinities. Its 

 feet, too, though not typically Platycercine, differ from those of the 

 Trichoglossince (cf. figs. 2 and 6, p. 1 71) by their more elongated and 

 slender tarsi and toes, with the latter not so much flattened and fitted 

 for grasping branches, &c., as are those of the Lories, and with 

 the claws not so strong and longer, particularly that on the third 

 digit. In both these points more resemblance to the Platycerci 

 is shown (cf. fig. 4, p. 171, foot of Psephotus hcematogaster), though 

 the different modes of life ' have here again induced a certain 

 amount of change from the form observed in the truly terrestrial 

 Platycerci. 



A thorough study of the osteology of the Parrots has yet to be 



' Mr. Gould says (' Handb. B. Aiistr.' ii. p. 89) : — " In its actions and manners 

 it is closely allied to the Trichoglossi, but differs from them in some lew par- 

 ticulars, whicli are more perceptible in captivity than in a state of natm-e. It 

 has neither the musky smell nor the jumping motions of the Trichoglossi. I 

 have never observed it alight on the ground, or elsewhere than among the 

 branches." 



